Musical Fidelity M8xi

Great question Soix.  And one that is hard to completely answer/discern given the different room, speakers and sources.  I demo'd the M8 through a dealer's BS Icon and Mofi888 speakers in a room smaller than mine, albeit perhaps better treated.  I have an Eversolo T8, Denafrips Pontus 15th at home with B&W 803 Nautilus speakers.  So what I perceived at the demo was more bass slam and tightness/grip with the M8.  Nothing terribly different on soundstage or imaging with the M8 vs Hegel at home.  Perhaps a little warmer on the top end from the M8, but I like the high end punch I get at home,And the M8 seemed to have some more fullness in the vocal/acoustic strings mid-range.  But not sure how that might translate to home.  So really I'm curious as to how other people perceive this amp, in their rooms and with their equipment.  

If you want Musical Fidelity’s warmth (less accurate, detailed and transparent), then run with it.  If you want a degree of warmth (more accurate, transparent and detailed), as well as a super amount of head-room, slam, and a super high damping factor, find yourself a nice preowned Hegel H590, which I believe you’d be extremely happy with, especially if you’re using an external DAC with it (which is the key).  The choice is yours.  I’ve been driving my beloved Revel Salon 2 speakers with the just incredible Hegel H590 (I use an external DAC) for about four years now, and I’m still so taken by it, I have no desire to move to the H600 (the H590 is a little warmer than the H600), or anything else, for the foreseeable future.  But, if I were going to move on from my H590, I would definitely roll with the incredible H600.  Happy listening.    

Thanks kennymacc.  I appreciate that.  I really do like my H390, but know the H590 would give me a little more of everything.  I'm going to get the MFM8xi here in the house for a few days for a demo now (great dealer) so I can answer the question definitively in my room with my components, cables and speakers compared to my 390.  One question for you:  do you use your XLR ins or your RCAs ins - or both?  With my 390, it is unquestionably better with the XLR ins than the best RCAs (and I've demo'd some really high end RCAs).  Same for the 590?

I’m curious to see your impressions when you get it home. I just traded in my M6si for a Hegel H400 and have really enjoyed the upgrade. I’m sure the M8xi is on another level but I was interested to hear that you thought the top end was warmer than the Hegel, I found the exact opposite when I switched although they aren’t exactly the same models as yours.

Great feedback Jester. Thank you. Yes I will report back. So hard to tell when it’s not your system. I’ve no idea but I will over the next few days when I have the M8 with my components and my speakers.